Block and hook structure positioning and guiding apparatus



April 21, 1970 T. L. JONES ETAL BLOCK AND HOOK STRUCTURE POSITIONING AND GUIDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4. 196'? y M w M O J m WWW w vw% A M mm a mM u April 21, 1970 T. L. JONES ETAL 3,507,405

BLOCK AND HOOK STRUCTURE POSITIONING AND GUIDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 4, 196'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ema lllllllll INVENTORS. 771K406 L. J0/Vf5 BYJOH/VW Tue/v5 J2 Z5 4 J 46,

A 7'70E/VEV April 21, 1970 'r. L. JONES ETAL BLOCK AND HOOK STRUCTURE POSITIONING AND GUIDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 25 Filed Dec. 1. 196'? INVENTORS 770 206 4. JOA/65 JOHN W TUE/V62, J6 4. J 42? A TTOEA/EV April 0 T. L. JONES ETAL 3,507,405

BLOCK AND HOOK STRUCTURE POSITIONING AND GUIDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Dec. 4. 1967 INVENTORS.

myza'e 4 JOA/65 JOHN W TUE/V65, J6

ATTOE/VEV United States Patent BLOCK AND HOOK STRUCTURE POSITIONING AND GUIDING APPARATUS Taylor L. Jones and John W. Turner, Jr., Houston, Tex., assignors to Byron Jackson, Inc, Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 687,819 Int. Cl. B66c 23/62; E2110 19/14 U.S. Cl. 214-25 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for guiding a travelling block along selected, generally vertical paths in a derrick assembly used in drilling oil and gas wells, or other wells, and for positioning the travelling block laterally in the derrick. The apparatus may also include means for stabilizing a hook structure suspended from the travelling block to maintain the hook in vertical alignment with the travelling block for movement of the travelling block and hook structure as a unit.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to the following applications pending concurrently herewith, namely:

Langowski and Turner, Ser. No. 687,817, filed Dec. 4, 1967, for Link .Stabilizer for Well Drilling Rigs;

McFadden, Ser. No. 687,829, filed Dec. 4, 1967, for Fluid Conductor Means for Hook Mounted Elevator, now US, Patent No. 3,479,062;

Turner, Ser. No. 687,818, filed Dec. 4, 1967, for Stabilized Pipe Supporting Structure for Drilling Rigs; and

Johnson and Turner, Ser. No. 687,820, filed Dec. 4, 1967, for Finger Board and Racker Apparatus and Method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to equipment for drilling wells, such as oil and gas or other wells, and more especially to wells drilled with equipment carried by a drilling ship. In particular, the invention relates to apparatus for positioning and guiding a main hoisting assembly, which includes a travelling block and may also include a hook structure.

In the drilling of oil and gas or other wells into the subsurface earth formation, rigs have heretofore been proposed and sometimes employed which are so equipped as to be operable through the entire drilling and well casing operations with a small crew who can control the operations from a remote location. Such operations include the handling of the drill pipe in a racker, as well as the manipulation of the drill string supporting equipment in such a manner that the usual drilling hook and supporting travelling block are held in an out of the way position to one side of the center line of the derrick while being hoisted or lowered in the running or pulling of pipe. Alternatively, the drilling hook and supporting travelling block may be moved vertically along the center line of the derrick.

Some drilling rigs are adapted for operation on a floating vessel when the well is being drilled under water, thereby subjecting the drill string hoisting equipment to variable forces tending to cause undesirable motion of the travelling block and hook, as well as to the equipment and pipe suspended from the hook.

Description of the prior art It has been proposed to provide a drilling rig in which the travelling block and the equipment supported by it moves vertically along the center line of the derrick or, alternatively, along a vertical path offset from the center line of the derrick. Several forms of such equipment are shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 2,776,058, issued Jan. 1, 1957, A. L. Stone Apparatus for Handling Pipe in a Derrick. However, the forms of apparatus of the foregoing patent employ flexible cable in tension to pull the travelling block to one side of the center line of the derrick. Such a pullback cable means does not sufficiently restrain swinging movements of the travelling block for many purposes. Moreover, in such apparatus, the travelling block is returned to its centered position by the force of gravity when the pullback cable is slacked off, i.e., no means is provided for positively returning the travelling block to the center line position and for maintaining it in the center line position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for positioning and guiding a travelling block, or a travelling block and a hook structure suspended therefrom in the derrick of a drilling rig in a manner to provide greatly improved stability to the travelling block and the components supported thereby.

Another object is to provide apparatus for restraining the travelling block from swinging on the cable by which it is raised and lowered in the derrick.

Another object is to provide apparatus whereby the travelling block is constrained to travel in alternative, generally parallel vertical paths as it is raised and lowered.

Another object is to provide apparatus employing a motor for positively moving the travelling block laterally in the derrick, especially from a center line position in the derrick to a position laterally offset from the center line.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in or apparent from the following description.

In brief, the improvements, objects and advantages of the invention are realized in a derrick assembly having a crown block, a travelling block, a cable suspending the travelling block from the crown block for vertical movement along the center line of the derrick, an elongated track mounted substantially upright in the derrick and laterally offset from the center line, a carriage mounted for movement along the track and guided thereby, the travelling block, as suspended, being swingable on a path extending from a first position on the center line to a second position offset from the center line and clear of a stand of pipe positioned on the center line and opposite to the travelling block, the travelling block and the carriage being interconnected for vertical movement in the derrick as a unit, and a power device operatively interposed between the travelling block and the carriage, the power device being operable to swing the travelling block on the path from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position, whereby when the travelling block is in the second position, it may be vertically moved without interfering with a stand of pipe positioned on the center line and opposite to the travelling block, wherein the improvement includes linkage means connecting the carriage to the travelling block to constrain the travelling block to swinging movement parallel to the carriage and in a vertical plane normal to the carriage, and the power device includes thrusting means operable to swing the travelling block as aforesaid and further selectively operable to hold the travelling block fixed against swinging in either direction on the path. The derrick assembly may include a hook suspended from the travelling block in alignment therewith, and means for moving the hook along a path parallel to the path of swinging movement of the travelling block to maintain the alignment.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a drilling ship having a derrick assembly including an exemplary form of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the derrick assembly shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view of a portion of the derrick assembly shown in FIG. 2 and looking in the same direction;

FIG. 4 is a still further enlarged view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being broken away to show interior construction;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a drilling ship 21 afloat in the water, the surface of the water being designated 22. The ship has an elevated platform 23 positioned amidships. Erected on the platform is a drilling derrick 24. The ship has a moon hole 25 through which a string of drill pipe 26 extends from above the platform 23 into the water and thence into the earth (not shown) below. As this type of drilling ship with a platform and a derrick is widely known in the field to which the invention pertains, it need not be described here in further detail.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the derrick 24 is shown somewhat schematically, sway braces, guy wires and similar structural members being omitted to enable working apparatus to be shown more clearly. The derrick has generally vertical corner posts 27 and 28 supported on the platform 23 on base members 29 and 31. A water table 32 near the top of the derrick carries the usual crown block 33 which is aligned with the vertical center line of the derrick. Suspended from the crown block by cable 34 is a travelling block 35. As is usual, one end (not shown) of the cable 34 is anchored to the ships structure, and the other end is led to the spool 36 of a draw works 37 for raising and lowering the travelling block and the load supported thereby.

A hook structure 38 is swingably suspended from the bottom of the travelling block 35 by inter-engaged bails 39 on the hook and 41 on the block. An elevator link 42 is swingably suspended from an car 43 on the hook structure, and the link has an elevator 44 swingably attached by another ear 45 to the lower end of the link 42. A second elevator link (not seen in FIG. 2) on the other side of the hook structure 38 similarly connects the elevator 44 to the hook structure 38.

The general reference numeral 46 denotes apparatus for positioning and guiding the block and hook structure. An elevator link stabilizing device is designated by the general reference numeral 47. The general reference numeral 48 designates apparatus for supplying compressed air to the elevator 44 to actuate it.

A stand 49 of drill pipe is shown as being supported by pipe-handling equipment including rackers 51 and 52. Other stands 53 of drill pipe and a stand 54 of drill collars are shown at rest in a pipe rack having a finger board 55, a base 56, and an intermediate rack member 57. The upper end of the string of drill pipe 26 is shown projecting above the power tongs 58, the slips 59, and the rotary table 61. Casing manipulating apparatus is shown at 62. A swivel and kelly assembly 63 is disposed in the rat hole 64.

Projecting outwardly from the derrick and positioned under the racker 51 is a horizontal stage 65 upon which an operator may stand to adjust or repair the racker.

Associated with the racker 52 is a cable 66 actuated by a fluid-powered piston-and-cylinder motor 67 for raising and lowering a component of the racker.

As the present invention pertains to apparatus for positioning and guiding a block and hook structure, a preferred form of apparatus will now be particularly described With reference to FIGS. 3-6. Other equipment, referred to hereinbefore, will be involved in the following particular description only to the extent necessary to relate it to the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the apparatus 46 for positioning and guiding the block and hook structure has a track 68 supported by the derrick, as best seen in FIG. 2. The track 68 is parallel to the vertical center line of the derrick and laterally offset therefrom. The track has horizontally spaced, parallel, vertical I-beams 69 and 71 which provide rails on which a carriage 72 travels. The carriage has a frame with parallel, longitudinal side members 73 and 74 connected by transverse members 75, 76, 77 and 78. The frame carries wheels 79a, 79b, 79c, 79d, 792 and 79 that rotate on horizontal axes parallel to the transverse frame members and are received between the flanges of the I-beams 69 and 71 to support the carriage 72 for rolling movement along the track. The carriage also has smaller wheels 81a-81f rotatable on horizontal axes that extend at right-hand angles to the transverse frame members, which wheels roll upon the Webs of the I-beams 69 and 71 to restrain sidewise movement of the carriage as it rolls along the track. The manner in which the wheels ride upon the I-beams is clearly shown in the sectional view of FIG. 6.

A parallel-arm articulated linkage system connects the carriage 72 to the travelling block 35 and the hook structure 38 to constrain the travelling block and hook structure to movement parallel to the carriage and in a vertical plane normal to the carriage, as indicated by the fullline and phantom views of the travelling block 35 as seen in FIG. 3. This linkage system has three identical rigid arms 82a, 82b and 820, each being pivoted at one of its ends to the carriage and at the other of its ends to the hook structure 38 or the travelling block 35.

A description of one of the arms 82a will serve as a description of the other two arms 82b and 82c, as these arms are generally similar to each other with the principal difference being that the upper arm 820 is somewhat wider at its outer end than the other two arms. As best seen in FIG. 4, the arm 82a has a generally trapezoidal configuration; it has a transverse member 83 that is substantially the same width as the carriage 72, a shorter, parallel transverse member 84, and side members 85 and 86 extending between the ends of the transverse members. The corners of the arm 82a are joined together by gusset plates 8712-8711 welded to the transverse and side members of the arm. The arm is strengthened by diagonal braces 88 and 89 welded to the corners of the arm.

A pair of hinge posts 91 and 92 are Welded to the side members 73 and 74 of the carriage. The inner end of the arm 82a is pivoted to these posts on hinges 93 and 94 so that the arm may pivot on a horizontal axis with respect to the carriage. The outer end of the arm 82a is pivotally connected to brackets 95 and 96, welded to the hook structure 38. Such pivotal connection is afforded by hinges 97 and 98 which provide a horizontal hinge axis.

The arm 82b is similarly pivotally connected to hinge posts 99 and 101 on the carriage 72 and brackets 102 and 103 welded to the lower part of the travelling block 35.

The arm 820 is also similarly interconnected between the carriage 72 and the upper part of the travelling block 35. To this end, the arm 82c is hingedly connected to posts 104 and 105 on the carriage and to brackets 106 and 107 on the upper part of the travelling block 35.

It will be seen that the arms 82a, 82b and 820 are pivoted to the carriage 72 on axes that are horizontal or at right angles to the length of the track 68. These pivot axes lie in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the track 68 and the carriage 72, the respective pivot axes being vertically spaced from one another. The arms 82a, 82b and 820 are of equal length and lie in parallel planes inclined to the plane of the carriage 72. The outer ends of the arms 82a, 82b and 82c are pivoted to the hook struc ture 38 and to the travelling block 35 on horizontal axes that lie in a plane parallel to the plane of the carriage 72 and to the planes in which lie the pivot axes of the inner ends of the arms. Thus is provided a parallel arm linkage system that constrains the travelling block and hook structure to move toward and away from the carriage and parallel to the carriage.

Movement of the travelling block and hook structure with respect to the carriage is effected by a motor 108. As shown, the motor is a fluid-actuated piston-and-cylinder assembly. The motor has a cylinder 109 closed at its lower end by cylinder head 111. The upper end of the cylinder 109 has a cylinder head 112. A piston rod 113 extends through the cylinder head 112 and is slidable therein. The end of the piston rod within the cylinder 109 is fitted with a piston (not shown) that slides in the bore of the cylinder. The outer end of the piston rod 113 is pivoted to the bracket 114 on the same pivot axis as the outer end of the arm 820, the bracket 114 being welded to the upper part of the travelling block.

The lower cylinder head 111 has a pair of ears 115 and 116 that embrace a cylinder mount 117 and that are pivotally connected to the mount by a horizontal pin 118. The cylinder mount 117 is welded to the transverse member 77 of the carriage at one end. The other end of the mount is supported by a strut 119 welded to that end of the cylinder mount and to a plate 121 welded to the transverse member 76.

Hydraulic fluid is admitted into and exhausted from the lower end of the cylinder 109 by a fluid connection 122. A similar fluid connection 123 serves to admit hydraulic fluid to the upper end of the cylinder 109 and to discharge hydraulic fluid therefrom.

The operation of the apparatus of the invention will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Refering to FIG. 3, the apparatus of the invention is shown in full lines in the laterally offset position, and in phantom in a position aligned with the center line of the derrick and directly in line with the string of drill pipe 26. Translation of the equipment from one of these positions to the other is accomplished by the motor 108. When hydraulic fluid, such as oil is introduced under pressure into the lower end of the motor through the fluid connection 122, the piston moves upwardly in the cylinder 109 to extend the piston rod 113 to move or thrust the block 35 relative to the carriage 72 to its position as shown in phantom in FIG. 3, i.e., to a position on the center line of the derrick. As the piston moves upwardly in the cylinder and as the piston rod is extended, fluid above the piston is forced out of the cylinder through the upper fluid connection 123. Translation of the travelling block from its center line position to its laterally offset position is accomplished by introducing fluid under pressure into the upper end of the cylinder through the upper fluid connection 123. The piston rod 113 is retracted into the cylinder and fluid below the piston in the cylinder is discharged through the lower fluid connection 122.

As shown in FIG. 3, the block 35, as shown in phantom, is above the block 35, as shown in full lines. The full line and the phantom line positions of the block are correct relative to the vertical position of the carriage 72, and are so shown for the purposes of clarity. However, ordinarily the block 35 will be moved laterally while the cable 34 is stationary. Thus, the block will swing on a small arc having a center at the crown block and will move substantially horizontally, with the carriage 72 moving upwardly as the block swings from its center line position to its offset position. Conversely, as the block is moved from its offset position to its center line position the carriage 72 will move in a downward direction relative to the block.

Suitable and well-known valving will be provided to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the motor 108, and, if desired, to hold pressure in one end of the cylinder or the other to maintain the travelling block in a selected lateral position in the derrick.

The arms 82b and 820 maintain the travelling block 35 oriented vertically and parallel to the carriage 72 in all lateral positions of the travelling block. The arm 82a, maintains the hook structure 38 vertically aligned with the travelling block 35. Only one arm 82a needs be interconnected between the carriage 72 and the hook structure 38, as the upper end of the hook structure is stabilized with respect to the block through the interengaged bails 39 and 41.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the block 35 and the equipment suspended from it are in the lateral retracted position and that they may be lowered along a vertical path offset from the center line of the derrick. Thus the hoisting equipment can be lowered without interfering with the stand of pipe 49 which is on the center line. As the block is lowered to one side of the center line, the stand of pipe can be withdrawn and racked at the same time. When the elevator 44 is at the proper level to'be moved into engagement with the pipe 26, the motor 108 is operated to move block 35 to its center line position. This carries the elevator around the pipe 26, to which it is latched. The hoisting equipment is raised along the center line of the derrick, the carriage 72 following, to raise the string of pipe so that another stand of pipe can be broken out and racked. When the string has been raised to the desired height, the block 35 is retracted to the position shown in FIG. 2 and lowered for another cycle. In going into the hole, the procedure is reversed.

From the foregoing description it is seen that the present invention provides apparatus that stabilizes the block, or the block and hook, in all of its movements in the derrick.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the invention, as many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

We claim:

1. A derrick assembly having a travelling block suspended for vertical movement along the center line of the derrick, an elongated track mounted substantially upright in the derrick and laterally offset from the center line, and a carriage mounted for movement along the track and guided thereby, the travelling block, as suspended, being swingable on a path extending from a first position on said center line to a second position offset from said center line and clear of a stand of pipe positioned on the center line and opposite to the travelling block, said travelling block and said carriage being interconnected for vertical movement in the derrick as a unit with said traveling block in said first position and in said second position, wherein the improvement comprises means for constraining said swinging movement of said travelling block to a path fixed with respect to said carriage, and a power device carried by one of said travelling block and said carriage and having an element operatively connected to the other of said travelling block and said carriage, said power device being operable to swing said travelling block along said path from said first position to said second position and from said second position to said first position, whereby when said travelling block is in said second position, it may be vertically moved without interfering with a stand of pipe positioned on the center line and opposite to the travelling block, wherein said means for constraining said swinging movement of said travelling block comprises a pair of vertically spaced, parallel, rigid arms of equal length, each of said arms pivotally connected at one end to said carriage and at the other end to said travelling block, and a hook suspended from said travelling block in alignment therewith, and a third rigid arm parallel to and equal in length to each of said pair of rigid arms, said third rigid arm pivotally connected at one end to said carriage and at the other end to said hook.

2. For use in a derrick assembly having a cable for suspending a travelling block for vertical movement along the center line of the derrick and an elongated track mounted substantially upright in the derrick and laterally offset from the center line, a subcombination comprising a carriage adapted to run on said track and to be guided thereby, a travelling block adapted to be suspended from said cable, a linkage system interconnecting said travelling block and said carriage constraining said block to move in a fixed path with reference to said carriage, and a power device carried by one of said carriage and said travelling block having an element operatively connected to the other of said carriage and said travelling block, said power device being operable to move said travelling block along said path in both directions from a position along the center line of the derrick to a position laterally offset from the center line and clear of a stand of pipe positioned on the center line and opposite to said travelling block, whereby the latter may be vertically moved without interfering with the stand of pipe and including a hook swingably connected to said travelling block in alignment therewith, and wherein said linkage system comprises a pair of parallel rigid arms of equal length, said arms spaced in the direction of travel of said carriage, each of said arms pivotally connected at one end to said carriage and at the other end to said travelling block, and a third rigid arm parallel to and equal in length to said first mentioned arms, said third rigid arm pivotally connected at one end to said carriage and at the other end to said hook, whereby alignment of said hook with said travelling block is maintained as said travelling block moves in said fixed path.

3. A derrick assembly having a crown block, a travelling block, a cable suspending said travelling block from said crown block for vertical movement along the center line of the derrick, an elongated track mounted substantially upright in the derrick and laterally offset from the center line, a carriage mounted for movement along the track and guided thereby, said travelling block, as suspended, being swingable on a path extending from a first position on said center line to a second position offset from said center line and clear of a stand of pipe positioned on the center line and opposite to the travelling block, said travelling block and said carriage being interconnected for vertical movement in the derrick as a unit, and a power device operatively interposed between said travelling block and said carriage, said power device being operable to swing said travelling block on said path from said first position to said second position and from said second position to said first position, whereby when said travelling block is in said second position, it may be vertically moved without interfering with a stand of pipe positioned on the center line and opposite to the travelling block, wherein the improvement comprises linkage means connecting said carriage to said travelling block to constrain said travelling block to swinging movement parallel to said carriage and in a vertical plane normal to said carriage, and said power device includes thrusting means operable to swing said travelling block as aforesaid and further selectively operable to hold said travelling block fixed against swinging in either direction on said path.

4. A derrick assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said power device is connected to one of said travelling block and said carriage, and said thrusting means is connected to the other of said travelling block and said carriage.

5. A derrick assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said power device comprises a cylinder, said thrusting means comprising a piston and a piston rod reciprocable in said cylinder, said cylinder having pressure fluid ports at opposite sides of said piston.

6. A derrick assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said power device is connected to one of said travelling block and said carriage, and said thrusting means is connected to the other of said travelling block and said carriage, and wherein said power device comprises a cylinder, said thrusting means comprising a piston and a piston rod reciprocable in said cylinder, said cylinder having pressure fluid ports at opposite sides of said piston.

7. A derrick assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said linkage means comprises a pair of vertically spaced, parallel, rigid arms of equal length, each of said arms pivotally connected at one end to said carriage and at the other end to said travelling block.

8. A derrick assembly as defined in claim 7 including a hook suspended from said travelling block in alignment therewith, and a third rigid arm parallel to and equal in length to each of said pair of rigid arms, said third rigid arm pivotally connected at one end to said carriage and at the other end to said hook.

9. A derrick assembly as defined in claim 3 including a hook suspended from said travelling block in alignment therewith, and another linkage means connecting said carriage to said hook to maintain its alignment with said travelling block as the latter is swung by said power device along said path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,685,378 8/1954 Stone 214-2.5 3,212,593 10/1965 Reischl 214 2.5 2,613,102 10/1952 Roberson 29482 3,125,171 3/1964 Stewart 254-139.1 3,278,163 10/1966 Marks 254-192 3,281,122 10/1966 Jenkins 254-190 HARVEY C. HORNSBY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

